Fact #077
Observing
Serious lunar observers look at the same crater twice a month, because at last quarter the shadows fall the other way.
The Sun rises over a feature during the waxing half of the cycle and sets over it during the waning half, lighting it from the opposite side. Ridges that were invisible become obvious, and a crater that looked like a bowl can look like a dome. It is the same trick as walking around a sculpture, performed by waiting a fortnight.
Source: Lunar and Planetary Institute (opens in a new tab) · checked Aug 2026